Automatic fluid-pressure friction-clutch



(No Modelf). l -2 Sheets- Sheet 1. G. M. RICHARDS- AUTOMATIC FLUID PRESSURE FRIGTION CLUTCH. No. 574,269. Patented Deo. 29, 1896.

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G. MRIGHARDS. AUTOMATIC FLUID PRESSURE FRICTION CLUTCH. No. 574,269.

' (No Model.)

Patented Dec. 29, 1896..

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f 'UMTED STATES PATENT GEORGE M. RICHARDS, or ERIE, PENNSYLVANTA.

AUTGMATC FLUlD-PRSSU FFiiCTlGN-CLUTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 574.269, dated December 29, 1896.

i Application filed July 31, 1896. Serial No. 601,137. (N0 mdel.)

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. RICHARDS, of Erie, Erie county, Pennsylvania, have in- Vented certain Improvements in Automatic Fluid-Pressure Friction-Clutches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in duid-pressure friction-clutches, its object being to provide an improved construction thereof whereby when the same is thrown into action a predetermined pressure is applied and maintained so long as the driving and driven elements are in engagement.

To this end my invention consists generally in providing the continuously running or driving element of the mechanism with an eXpansible fluid-chamber, the movable Wall of which carries a friction-plate adapted to `maintained, but to be again automatically actuated if 'said pressure falls below the predetermined limit, means also being provided for mechanically throwing said pump into and out of action and forrelieving said fluidpressure chamber by permitting its contents to reflow into the reservoir, said pressurechamber, reservoir, and pump constitutinga fluid-circulating system, and they and their attachments all being carried by the driving element of the apparatus.

My invention further consists 'in the features of construction hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is an end elevation of my improved clutch, showing the pump and Huid-reservoir and attach- 4L is a sectional detail of the pump-regulator,

. and Fig. 5 is a sectional detail of the Valvemechanism.

In the construction shown in the drawings the pulleyAand its attachments hereinafter described constitute the continuously running or driving mechanical element, while the shaft 2 with its attachments constitutes the driven element. The pulley-hub 3 is journaled loosely on the shaft 2 and is held from lateral movement thereon in one direction by the hub 4, secured on the shaft 2 by means of the key 5 and socketed to receive the hub 3.

The web 6 of the pulley is provided with the cylindrical shell 7, upon the other end of which is secured the annular flange 8 by means of the bolts 9, which flange engages the flange 10, integral with the hub 4, thereby holding the pulley A from lateral displacement in the opposite direction. The inner face of the web 6 has an ann ulargroove or channel which, when inclosed, as hereinafter described,forms the fluid-pressure chamber 11.

l2 is a diaphragm of sheet-rubber or other flexible elastic material, which is firmly clamped upon the face of the web 6, so as to cover and inclose the channel and form the chamber 11 by means of the annular ring 13,

placed upon its inner edge and clamped against the same by means of the spring-wire 14, wedged between it and the inclined shoulder 15 of the circumferential groove 16 in the hub 3, the inner edge of the diaphragm, the annular ring, and spring 14 all lying in the said groove. The outer edge of the diaphragm is clamped between the web and theflange 17 on the shell 7, so as to make the chamber duid-tight. Bearing upon the diaphragm is vthe annular friction-plate 1S, which is held connects through the port 25, controlled by the spring-pressed valve 26, with the pres- IOO 2 stance sure-chamber l1. The other end is also connected through the port 27, controlled by the plug-relief valve 28, with the chamber.

Connected with the passage 23 is the pump 29, of any appropriate construction. rl`he construction which I prefer to use is that shown in the drawings, in which the cylinder 30 is provided with an enlarged part Si to receive the packing 32. To the cylinder is fitted the cylindrical piston 33, through which extends the piston-rod Si, connected to the lever 235 and normally thrust upward by the spring 36, which presses upon the sleeve S7, fitted to the piston and entering the enlarged end of the cylinder, so as to bear upon the packing.

The lever 35 is operated by means oi' the antifriction-roll 3S, adapted to ride upon the eccentric shifting sleeve 39, as operated by its lever 40, pivoted upon the standard 4l. The pump when actuated serves to force the contents of the hose into the Huid-pressure chamber. The plug-valve S is controlled by the following means: The segmental pinion 42, mounted thereon, is engaged by the segmental gear 43, which carries the fingers 4I- and 45, standing normally on opposite sides of the flange i0. This flange is carried by the shifting sleeve 3f), and when the sleeve is thrust toward the hub 3, s0 as to be engaged by the roll 3S, the ffange engages the finger 4:5, operating the valve 2S, so as to close the same and cut oit the exhaust from the pressure-chamber.

When the shifting sleeve is thrust opp0 sitely, so as to be disengaged from the pump, the fiange G engages the finger 44, so as to open the valve 28 and release the contents of the pump, which then flow into the hose.

In order to control and limit the pressure in the pressure-chamber, I provide the valvechamber I7, which communicates through the port 4S with the pressure-chamber and is provided with the valve 49, having the controlling-spring 50, and normally closing the opening into the chamber under the tension of its spring, which is adjustable by means of the thumb-nut 5l. The valve-stem 52 extends inline with the projection 53 upon the pump* lever.

It will thus be seen that when a predetermined pressure has been reached in the pressu re-chamber the valve 4:0 is lifted against the tension of its spring, thrusting its stem 52 upward, so as to engage the lever 55, and, acting against the tension of its spring 3G, holds the roll 3S out of engagement with the shifting sleeve, and consequently throws the pump out of action. In case, however, from leakage or any other canse the pressure in the chamber falls below the predetermined limit the valvestem 52 drops, allowing the roll 3S to again engage the shifting sleeve and operate the pump until the predetermined pressure is restored in the chamber, when the pump is again. thrown out of action in the manner above described.

In considering the construction of this apparatus the pulieyA and its connected parts are treated as the driving element, the shaft 2, with its hub -t and flange lO, as the driven element, the shifting sleeve 3!) as the relatively stationary part, and the chamber 11, with its plate 18, as the friction device interposed between the elements.

I claim- 1. In a clutch of the class described, the combination with the driving and driven elements, ot' the automatic mechanism for creating pressure between said elements carried by said driving element, and automatic means actuated by the pressure produced, for throwing said mechanism out of action when and so long as a predetermined pressure is reached and maintained.

2. In a clutch of the class described, the combination with the driving and driven members thereof and the interposed friction device, of automatic means actuated by the movement of the driving member for creating pressure in said friction device, and automatic means for throwing said pressurecreating mechanism out of action when and. so long as a predetermined pressure is produced.

3. In a fluid-pressure clutch, the combination with the driving and driven members, and theA interposed expansible friction device, of the pump carried by the driving member and operative by its movement, and means for automatically throwing said pump out of action when and so long as a predetermined limit of pressure is attained.

ai. In a fluid-pressure clutch, the combination with the driving and driven elements thereof, of the pump carried by the driving element, the relatively stationary pump-operatin g device, and the regulator actuated by the pressure produced by said pump adapted to throw and hold said pump out of action when and so long as a predetermined pressure is attained.

5. In a Huid-pressure clutch, the combination with the driving element, its fluid-chamber, the expansible friction-surface operative by the pressure within the chamber,tl1e driven element and its friction-surface, of the pump carried by the driving element, automatic means for operating said pump during and by means of the movement of said driving elcment, means for throwing said pumpoperating mechanism into and out of engagement therewith, andan automatic regulator adapted to throw and hold the pump out of action. when and so long as a predetermined pressure in said chamber is attained.

U. In a fluid-pressure clutch, the combination with the driving element, its Huid-chamber closed by a flexible diaphragm, a friction surface actuated thereby, and the driven element having a friction-surface adjacent to that of the diaphragm, of the pump carried by said driving element communicating with. said chamber, its operating-lever, the spring IOO los

IIO

engaging said lever, the eccentric engaged by said lever and operating it against the tension of said spring, and means for automat,- ically throwing the lever out of engagement with said eccentric when a predetermined limit of pressure is attained.

7. In a fluid-pressure clutch, the combination with the driving element havinga iiuidchamber with an expansible wall, and a friction device actuated thereby and the driven element, of the pump connected with said fluid-chamber and carried by said driving element, the spring for actuating said pump in one direction, the relatively fixed eccentric engaged by the lever and operating it in the other direction, and means for controlling the action of the pump Within predetermined limits of pressure.

8. In a fluid-pressure clutch, the combination with the driving element, its fluid-cham.

ber, diaphragm and friction device, and the driven element, of the pump carried by said driving element communicating with said chamber, the shifting eccentric adapted to connecting the chamber with the reservoir, and the pump for forcingthe contents of the reservoirinto the chamber, and the automatic means for actuating said pump within a predetermined limit of pressure in said chamber.

l0. In a clutch of the class described, the combination with its driving and driven elements, the interposed friction device, and the relatively stationary part, of the fluidcirculating system comprising a collapsible reservoir, an expansion-chamber for actuating the friction device, the pump for forcing the contents of the reservoir into the eXpansion-chamber actuated by operative connection with -the relatively fixed part, and the automatic means for throwing the pump out of action, controlled by the pressure in the chamber.

1l. In a clutch of Jthe class described, the combination with the driving and driven elements, the interposed friction device, and the adjustable relatively fixed part, of the iiuidcirculating system comprising an expansible chamber for actuating the friction device. a collapsible storage-reservoir, a relief-valve connecting the chamber with the reservoir, means for connecting the pump with the chamber, means for throwing it into operative connection with the relatively xed part, and the regulator for controlling the pump, itself controlled by the pressure in the expansible chamber.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE M. RICHARDS.

Illitnesses:

T. D. MERWIN, MINNIE L. THAUWALD. 

